That’s unfortunate. Better news, though, is that the Texas flame-thrower played catch Wednesday and remains on schedule after Tommy John elbow surgery in September.

“Michael is exactly where he should be right now,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “He needs to be on one of those mounds a year from today, and he’s well on his way to doing that. There is no need to accelerate the thing whatsoever. … The biggest challenge is going to be the mental side of it and perhaps boredom, for lack of a better description.”

Kopech signed autographs as he left the practice fields Wednesday. When I asked how he’s dealing with the boredom, he said having four dogs at home helps.

You don’t want to be the guy soft-tossing baseballs to Jimenez in a batting cage. There’s barely time to move your hand and hide behind a screen before a ball rockets off his bat.

Many felt Jimenez earned a call-up last summer, but the Sox stashed him in the minors, preventing his service-time clock from running. Hahn is at least pretending Jimenez has a chance to start the season in the majors, though the team figures to do what the Cubs did with Kris Bryant in 2015 — hold off until mid-April to gain an extra year of team control.

“We want everyone in camp to approach each day as if they have a chance to make the big-league club,” Hahn said. “Eloy is someone who is right on the doorstep of making an impact in Chicago. Whether that starts opening day or at some point during the season remains to be seen. He looks like he’s in great shape; he took his physical training very seriously this past offseason.”

3. New catcher James McCann brings a swagger.

He revealed that part of his motivation for signing with the Sox was to remain in the AL Central, calling it a “bonus” to face the Tigers 19 times. That’s the organization that non-tendered him after four-plus big-league seasons.

McCann, 28, sounds eager to work with the Sox’s young pitchers, sharing wisdom gleaned from catching the likes of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.

“I want to come in and help the young guys,” he said. “I have a specific expertise as far as having faced all these guys for the last five years, so I know the scouting reports. I know what we see as an opposing hitter.”

Asked if there’s any nugget of info gained from his days in Detroit that he would decline to reveal to his new teammates, McCann replied: “Absolutely not. I want to beat them 19 times this year.”

4. Yoan Moncada might feel like the forgotten prospect.

But asked whom he’s most curious about in camp, Renteria pointed to the strikeout-prone second baseman: “How Yoan is continuing to improve. I know he’s been very conscientious about what he did over the course of the winter, so we’re looking forward to seeing how he does. It’s the third year, so we expect a lot.”

5. Hahn says the Sox still could make several moves this spring.

But Wednesday was more of a day to take stock in the rebuild and enjoy a new beginning — the 2019 season.

Regarding the rebuild, Hahn said: “We know we’re entering Year 3, have really been at it in earnest for 26 or 27 months. But you are starting to see the fruit of the hardship and labors on the scouting and trade side. Our coaches have done a tremendous job creating this winning-type culture.”

And he offered this upbeat take on the day pitchers and catchers reported: “It’s a good day for the baseball soul in you.”

Newly acquired first baseman Yonder Alonso, prized free agent Manny Machado’s brother-in-law, said the two talked Tuesday but not about baseball: “One hundred percent, I can tell you that.”

McCann said he would not daydream about Machado in a Sox uniform: “You can’t really daydream and then have your heart broken.”

McCann said Machado “would be a huge addition to this team and this lineup. He’s a pretty special hitter. He’s one of those guys, you can’t get him out the same way twice. You get him out one time and he’s looking for that the next time.”